Tony was recently interviewed by a program called “Posers”, which is a yoga based show.  Here’s the interview.

Why do I harp on yoga?  Simply because I want everyone to be fit and yoga is the cornerstone of any good fitness program.  Yes, I know there are plenty of programs that get great results and don’t include yoga.  Every one of them should be modified to add yoga.  If you are not doing yoga, then you are not doing P90X.  Take the time to struggle with yoga. That struggle leads to tremendous gains.

Keep bringing it people.

Dave

I also have to credit Tony for getting me to take yoga seriously. If you’ve read the posts about my journey through yoga, you’ll know that it was Tony that sat me down in Hawaii in 2008 and basically explained what an idiot I was for not doing Yoga X as part of my P90X program. TH was right and that conversation caused me to learn more about yoga and how it could increase every aspect of my physical performance in triathlon, cycling, and P90X, and how it could provide me with a sense of calm and clarity that I have previously not enjoyed.

Here is a preview of next month’s One on One, entitled Patience Hummingbird. This is a new yoga DVD from Tony, that I’m really excited about. For whatever reason, the fall seems to be the time of year when I really need some yoga in my life. Maybe it is the triathlon season punishment, maybe it is the end of summer, maybe it is just the natural cycle of my life. Regardless of the reason, this one is sure to make the rotation.

Namaste everyone.

To put it succinctly, implementing a bi-weekly yoga practice has improved my entire life. Since I started doing yoga twice a week (Yoga X and a 75 min guided “flow” yoga class) I have become stronger, faster in the swim/bike/run world, and my recovery times are much shorter. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, I have a degree of calm and clarity that I have never experienced before. I know, this sounds impossible, but you probably doubted the P90X infomercial as well.

My inspiration for this increased yoga focus, and most of my non-triathlon exercise was, of course, Tony Horton. Tony has been talking about the importance of yoga for a long time.  After hearing Tony talk about yoga in Hawaii last year, we really changed our approach to P90X. Gone were the days of treating Yoga X as a rest/recovery day and skipping the difficult poses that still cause us to struggle (see twisting half moon). Instead, we have made it the focal point of our workout schedules. I do yoga every Tuesday night. It is a time that I have no conflicts and I don’t miss my 75 minute yoga flow class. Sunday it is time to recharge the batteries with Yoga X.

Yes, Yoga X is long and hard, but it is important.  When people expressed concerns about the length and difficulty of Yoga X, Tony responded with the Fountain of Youth DVD in the “One-on-One” series. Why? Simply, because Tony believes that yoga is the single most beneficial exercise a person can do. If you struggle with Yoga X, check out the Fountain of Youth.

In February of 2009 Monica and I had the good fortune to attend Tony’s Yoga Retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We did morning and evening yoga sessions, which book ended epic bluebird days skiing and snowboarding. We asked Tony to take a moment and reflect the online conversation about the benefits of yoga and whether Yoga X was worth the time and effort that it demands.

We felt it was important to record Tony’s thoughts on yoga live, so you could hear it straight from his mouth. To be honest, I am on a yoga crusade. I want everyone to include yoga in their exercise routine. If you have reviewed my 14-week Olympic distance triathlon training program, you’ll note there is one constant and it is Yoga X every week. I can tell you how good yoga is until I’m blue in the face (and frankly I am), but I’m not Tony Horton. I’m just a guy who decided to push play.

Please take a moment to watch this video. When you are done, go grab your Yoga X DVD, put it in and do the ENTIRE routine. When you have finished, please write me a note and let me know how much better you feel. Then keep it up for at least three months to give yoga an honest chance. I my guess is that you’ll fall in love with it.

Click to Watch Video

I like to think of yoga as a flowing river. If you give a river enough time it will wear down even the hardest rocks.  Yoga is the same way. It takes time and dedication. If you give it the time it deserves, like a river, it will create something beautiful.

Beginning on Sunday March 22nd, and continuing on as many Sunday’s as we are available, we will be holding free yoga workouts in Scottsdale, AZ. We will alternate between Yoga X and Tony’s Fountain of Youth DVD from the One-on-One series. If you are in Phoenix come join us for Sunday Morning Yoga Fit Club. Who knows, you might just end up feeling good.

Yours Truly,

“Gumby, Jr.”

While in crane, gently drop your head to the ground.  You’ll want to be sure you keep your neck in a comfortable and strong position.  From there, try to position your rear over your shoulders and then lift straight up with your core.  Keep your core tight and try to squeeze your thighs together, which will help you balance.

Try it against a wall with a spotter when you start.  Slowly, but surely, you will find the balance and strength to straighten your legs above your head.  Here’s a video of what the move looks like in real time.  I held this for a 10 count, but I try for 30 when I do it as a regular part of my practice.

Remember, yoga is like water in a river running over rock.  It takes time, but the water always wins the battle.

Dave

Yoga practice can be difficult, but it is more difficult if you cannot maintain your focus.  Often the phrase, “clear your mind” is used as a way to describe the feeling of focusing solely on the moment and not concerning yourself with something that happened during your day or what you have to do when you are done.  When I hear “clear your mind” my mind starts racing looking for something to not to think about.  As a result, I lose focus when I try to clear my mind.

Instead, of trying to clear my mind of all thoughts, I chose to focus it on one specific thought.  As my mind wanders, as it inevitably does during yoga practice, I come back to my intention.  By focusing solely on that one thought, I find I am able to concentrate more, which has helped my yoga practice.  I hope you find this helpful in your yoga practice.  I would love to hear from you if you have other thoughts on how to maintain focus during yoga.

Dave

Click to watch a preview of “Fountain of Youth”

Our first exposure to yoga was with the Power 90 series.  There is a brief bit of yoga used to warm the body up before the Sweat 1-2 and Sweat 3-4 sections.  When Monica and I started P90X and started doing Yoga X, we were amazed by how difficult it was.  I have to admit that I did not like the workout at first.  It was long, exhausting, and frustrating.  Over time, Yoga X has become my favorite exercise program.  Yes, it is long (approx. 90 mins), and it is still exhausting; however, it is no longer frustrating.  This is not because I have mastered each move.  It is simply because I have gained an understanding of what yoga is all about and what Tony is trying to accomplish with the Yoga X DVD.

Yoga is about flexibility, but it also about strength.  The difference between a typical strength workout and yoga, is that yoga builds mental strength in addition to physical strength.  Yoga requires complete focus and a dedication to the moment.  Our society has evolved into the nation of the multi-taskers.  We text while we drive (not endorsed by The Fit Club Network), listen to music while we work, and watch TV while we exercise.  Taking an hour and a half out of our busy lives to breath and hold difficult postures for several minutes is not something that comes naturally to most Americans.

I submit to you that the purpose of yoga is to build the mental strength to sit still.  The payoff is increased flexibility and strength to be sure, but yoga also brings a sense of clarity and calm that other “traditional” forms of exercise simply cannot provide.  We hope you have found this post helpful and will keep checking back regularly for more updates.